Rearview mirror mounting



Sept. 15,1953

G. l.. KAMF'A 2,652,221

REARVIEW MIRROR MOUNTING Filed May 5, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 15, 1953 Q L, KAMPA 2,652,221

REARVIEW MIRROR MOUNTING Filed May 5, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Patented Sept. 15, 1953 UNITED Nstares PATE aEAavIEW nzitilt MOUNTING` George L. Kampa, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to Kampa Company, Inc., Minneapolis, Minn, a corporation of Minnesota Application May 3, 1951, Serial No. A234,297 1 claim. (o1. 24H78) NT OFFICE My invention relates to mounting devices par- Fig. 3 is a view partly in side elevation. and ticularly adapted foruse in mounting and suppartly insection, taken on the line "3--3 of Fig. `2: porting rear view mirrors and the like on ve- Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentarydetail in hicles.

More particularly, the invention relates to `5 `therea-r view mirror carrying arm and bracket means for mounting rear view mirrors on busses therefor, vand supporting means for the bracket" or trucks, wherein the load-carrying rear porl Fig. 5 is a vertical section,4 taken on the .line tion of the vehicle is of considerably greater width 5-S of Fig. 2;

than the cab portion normally occupied by the Fig. 6 is a view partly in plan and partly in driver. l0 horizontal section, taken on the line 6 6 `oi An important object of my invention is the Fig. v2.

provision of mounting means for rear view mir- In the preferred embodiment of the invention rors and the like which will permit the m1rror illustrated 1n Figs 1 to 6 inclusive, the numeral to be moved laterally outwardly of the cab por- I indicates an elongated cross-sectionally cir tion of the vehicle so that the driver thereof may cular arm having at one end a handle member 2 have a clear and unobstructed view to the rear, and being ilattened at its otherend, as indicated such as a narrow driveway or the like. 90 a Another important object of my invention is 6 made up of a plurality, as shown 3, of sections the provision of a rear view mirror mounting 1 that are sphericaily segmental in shape, and which may be readily adjusted to compensate for a p differing eye levels of vehicle operators. Each of the plates 8 and 9 are provided lwith Still another object of my invention is the provision of means `for quickly and easily locking whichcooperate'todeneaspherical recess II) in the mounting means so that adjustment of the which the ball 6 is contained. `The segmental rear view mirror is maintained irrespective of sections 'l are formed to provide van `axial .pasthe amount of vibration of the vehicle when in sage II through which the arm I extends. Il; motion. should be noted that the ball '6 is divided into 'its Another object of my invention is the provision component sections 'l in planes extending :paralof means whereby theft of the rear view mirror lel to the axis of .the arm VI.. With Areference to from the Vehicle is rendered difficult without the Fig. 4, it will be `observed that the apertures use of tools for removal of the same. which form the spherical recess IIJ are beveled A still further object of my invention is the or countersunk from the opposed outer sides of provision of a rear view mirror supporting dethe plates l8 and B, as indicated 'at I2, `for a purvice which is relatively simple and inexpensive pose which will hereinafter become apparent. to produce, which is efficient in operation, and The passage II through the ball Sis diametrically which is rugged in construction and durable in enlarged centrally of the `ball to provide a chamuge, 40 ber I3.

The above and still further highly important A pair of clamping screws vor studs M and II objects and advantages of my invention will behave screw-threaded engagement with the clampcorne apparentfrom the following detailed speciing plate B and extend outwardly therefrom in cation, appended claim, and attached drawthe `direction of the cooperating clamping plate ings, 9. As shown, the studs I4 and I5 are located Referring t0 the drawings, Which illustrate laterally outwardly of diametrically opposed side the invention, and in which like characters inportions of the ball -6 adjacent the opposite ends dicate like parts throughout the several views: ofthe plate l, The ooperatimg clamping plate Fig- 1 iS a View in from? elevation 0f aple- 9 is provided with apertures I6 and Il for the fen-ed form of mounting means for a rear View reception of the studs i4 and I5 respectively. A mirror, built in accordance with my invention washer-equipped acorn nut Ia is scpewthreaded Fig.2 is a fragmentary view in front elevation on the stud I4 and g, wing vm11; 19 1s Screw- `oi' a portion 0f the Structure 0f Fig. 1, illustratthreaded on thestud I5, said nuts, when tighting a bracket of my invention on an enlarged ened on their respective studs, causing the ball scale; sections 1 to be moved into tight clamping engagement with the arm I and to be frictionally locked against movement in the spherical recess I0. The length of the stud I4 is such that when the nut I8 is screw-threaded tightly thereon, the clamping plates 8 and 9 will be in spaced-apart relationship, as shown in Fig. 4, to an extent that loosening or tightening of the wing nut I9 will be sufficient to release or lock the ball 6 and the arm -I. `Loosening of the wing nut I9 will permit rotary and axial sliding movements of the arm I with respect to the ball 6 and universal swinging movements of the arm I and ball 6 with respect to the bracket to an extent permitted by the countersunk or beveledportions I2 of the plates 8 and 9. The radius of the recess I0 corresponds to the radius of the outer surfaces of the ball sections 1, and the radius of the portions of the segments 1 which dene the passage II corresponds to the radius of the arm I whereby to insure an even clamping pressure between the plates 8 and 9 and the sections 1 and between said sections `1 and the mirror-supporting arm- I. The clamping pressure exerted by the ball sections 1 against the arm I is enhanced by the enlarged centralchamber I3 in that each segment exerts pressure on the arm I at axially spaced relatively small areas thereon.

The clamping plate 8 is provided at its lower end portion with a laterally outwardly projecting mounting flange through which extends an opening 2|. An extendable and retractable member 22 comprises a pair of telescoping tubular rods 23 and 24, the latter of which is flattened at its outer end, as indicated at 25. equipped screw 26 extends through a suitable aperture in the flattened end portion of the rod 24 and through the aperture 2l in the mounting flange 20 to lock the clamping plate 8 in any desired angular relationship with respect to the rod 24. At the opposite end of the member 22, the tubular rod 23 is formed to provide a reduced shaft portion 21 which is adapted to be contained in and supported by a bracket 5 identical in all respects to the bracket 5 and the component parts of which are identified by numerals corresponding to those associated with the bracket 5 but having prime marks added. The shaft portion 21, for the greater part of its length, is of the same diameter as the mirror-carrying arm I. However, intermediate its ends, the shaft portion 21 is formed to provide a collar element 28 which iscontained within the chamber I3 of the ball 6'., The collar 28 limits axial sliding movements of the shaft 21 .with respect to the ball 6 when the wing nut I9 is loosened on the stud I5 so as to prevent or vat least deter theft lof the supporting element 22 and the parts carried thereby including the mirror 4. With particular reference to Figs. 1 and 4, it will be Aseen that the rod 24 is locked in a desired set extended or retracted position with respect to its cooperating rod 23 by a set screw or the like 29. With reference to Fig. 1, it will be seen that an angle bracket lor the like 30 is rigidly secured, by vmeans of a nut-equipped bolt 3I, to the anchoring flange 20' of the bracket 5. As shown, the mounting bracket 39 is also rigidly secured, by means of bolts or the like 32, to a suitable base of support 33 which may be assumed to compriseja portion of the cab of a bus or truck in close relationship to the operator thereon From the above, it shouldl be obvious that removal of the entire mirrork mounting structure A nutmay be effected only by the use of tools such as wrenches, pliers, or the like inasmuch as the handle 2 prevents the arm I from being removed from the bracket 5 and the collar 28 on the shaft portion 21 prevents removal of the extendable and retractable supporting member 2,2 from the bracket 5 when the wing nutsIS and I9 are loosened. It should be further obvious that by loosening the wing nuts I9 and I9', the nutequipped screws 26 and 3I, and the set screw 29, the mirror 4 may be moved in any desired direction andv positioned to give the driver of the vehicle a clear View to the rear thereof without necessitating removal of his line of vision from the front to an excessive degree. When it is desired to drive the vehicle into a restricted alley or driveway where lateral clearance is at a minimum, the mirror may be quickly and easily moved laterally inwardly sc as to obviate possible injury thereto.

My invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be completely satisfactory for the accomplishment of the objectives set forth; and, while I have shown and described a preferred embodiment and a single modication of my novel rear View mirror mounting, it will be understood that the same is capable of modification without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as dened in the claim. K

What I claim is:

A mounting device for rear View mirrors; said device comprising an arm adapted to be secured to a rear View mirror; a bracket mounting said arm for longitudinal sliding and universal swing'- ing and pivotal movements with respect thereto; said bracket comprising a ball made in segmental sections, said sections dening an axial passage through which said arm extends, a pair of spaced clamping plates dening a spherical recess containing said ball, and means including a clamping screw connecting said plates laterally outwardly of the ball and a clamping nut threaded on said screw; an extensible and retractable rod comprising a ypair of telescoping rod sections; means pivotally mounting one of said rod sec- 'tions to one of the plates of said bracket; a second bracket identical to said first-mentioned bracket and comprising a ball made in segmental sections, a pair of cooperating clamping plates and a nut-equipped clamping screw; the other of said rod sections extending through the axial passage in the ball of said second bracket; anchoring means pivotally mounting one of the plates of said second bracket to a base of support, the passage through said last-mentioned ball bei ing diametrically enlarged centrally, and a collar element on said other rod within said enlarged portion of the passage, said collar element being of greater diameter than the normal passage whereby to limit axial movement of said other rod with respect'to said ball.

GEORGE L. KAMPA.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name y Date 259,957 White June 20, 1882 310,8'10 Blessing Jan. 20, 1885 470,668 Fisher Mar. 15, 1892 1,218,631 De Monts Mar. 1.3, 191'1 1,822,479 EdelmannH Sept. 8, 1931. 

